Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-05-07
PIGEON-ROOST MASSACRE.
esn Indiana IN tie Enrgv Days.
IA. ". Vol,ias. In Madi son Courier.1

xA9 OtOSY ~ Anyway EWO0too - SOSsSSe-
evn Indiana ta the Enrgv Days.
"a. ". Vohias. in Madison Courierl
Pigeon Rossst was the name of q
small settlement formed in 1909, and
was so called from the innumerable
number of pigeons that roasted in that
vicinity. 1t was situated five miles
from Scottsburg, the present county
seat of Scott, and near beautiful
stream that bears the memorable
name until this day. At the time OF
the massacre most of the men were
away from home. In the afternoon of
September 3, 1912, Elias PAYNE and a
Mr.. Ceilings, while out chanting one
and one-half miles from the present site
Of Vienna. were surprised and killed
ley party of Shawnea warriors. Scalp
ing their victims, they fastened toward
the settlement, which they reached
about shutdown. In one short hour one
man, five women, and sixteen children
were struck dead by the ruthless tom.
ahawk of the fiendish savages. Among
the killed were Henry Ceilings and
wife, Mrs. Payne and her eight chill,
dren, Mrs. Ceilings and her seven chill.
dren, Mrs. John Norris, her own child
and aged mother-in-law-for the aged
Were spared no more than the infant
Mro Rinoro oopooo1oJ bo~co1f ou1 chill
dren in sink-hole, until the Indians
became busily engaged in burning and
plundering, when she fled, and sue.
ceeded in reaching the residence of he1
brother. John Ceilings, son of William
E. Ceilings, had just caught horse to
60 after the cows, when he saw an In.
dian approaching in threatening atti'
tude. He dropped the rein and fled.
pursued by the savage, who was gain.
ing on him, when he heard the report
of his. fathers rife, and saw the savage
fall with the blood streaming from his
breast. He succeeded in reaching the
house in safety. There were in the
house: William E. Ceilings (whom
the Indians we'll knew, and from his un.
erring aim named Long Knife, his two
children, John and Lydia, and Captain
Norris. They kept the Indians back
until about dark. They knew that as
soon as it was dark enough for the In.
dams to approach the house without be-
ing seen, they would set fire to it, and
burn them alive. They therefore de-
cided to risk the peril Of escape. Ly-
dia went first, then her brother John,
followed by Norris, and, LASTLY, along
Knife" AS the latter was passing the
corn-crib an Indian fred at him. He
Immediately raised his gun to return
the fire when he found that the ball
fired by the savage had broken the lock
of his gun. He hallooed to Norris to
bring him the other gun, but Norris
was like the Irishman. "He had q
brave heart, but cowardly pair of legs, !"
and they carried him away. leaving
Ceilings to fight the Indians alone with
broken gun. When they crowded
him too close he would raise his gun
and pretend that he was going to fire,
and thus frighten them back; for they
well knew, from the many shooting
matches in which he came out second
to none, that it was folly to stand be-
fore his aim. In this way he reached
the corn-feld, under cover of which he
escaped. After plundering the houses
the Indians set fire to them and most of
the dead bodies were consumed. How
ever, some of the children were pierced
by sharp sticks and left sitting against
trees. Their horrible deed accom-
plished the Indians started northward.
A large force Of Clark County militia
were soon gathered from the vicinity of
Charlestown, which reached the scene
of carnage, while the smoking remains
of the cabins and charred bodies pre-
sented the most horrible spectacle they
had ever Witnessed. They Immediately
pursued the savages to the Muscata-
tuck, which they found so much swollen
that they could not effect a crossing,
and were compelled to give up the pur-
suit. They then returned and buried
the remains of the victims in two
graves, about one hundred yards east
Of the j., M. & L Railroad, and near
what is since known as the Pigeon-roost
Or Sodom Cemetery. At present there
is nothing to show where the graves
are except three or four rough stones |
and large sassafras tree, which is said |
10 have witnessed the event, but is now
thought to be entirely dead.
The late John G. SAKE quarter Of
q century ago was the most popular |
poet in America. What, as q wit and |